To some degree, hazing the new guy is a time-honored tradition.
When I was a kid, freshmen who came out for varsity ball used to have carry all the equipment and there’s all kinds of nicknames for the new kid on the block. “Fresh meat” and “rook” are about the only two I can print here, but y’all know the others.
I get the sense this is less common with the current generation across most walks of life, with the exception of a couple corners of the universe: like trucking.
“Steering wheel holder.”
I hear that term just about everywhere, generally to describe anyone who’s new to the industry and not driving a chromed-out pre-EPA brick equipped with an 18 speed manual.
There are a host of tools and technology available today that make truck driving easier than it was 35 years ago, and I don’t think embracing them is a testament to your inability to otherwise properly operate a vehicle.
I took my CDL test on a 13 speed and I don’t think I’ve driven one since. I’ve had to back into more truck stop parking spots than I can count and I’ve managed to do that each time without taking part of someone else’s truck or trailer for a ride – something I’ve personally witnessed career drivers do. Twice.
